Author: eatsleepwrestle

Some people sacrifice their bodies for professional wrestling. Some sacrifice more. In December of 1984, “Dr. D” David Schultz did what he was trained to do. He protected the business that put food on the table for his wife and daughter. He received more praise than criticism for slapping John Stossel by knocking John Stossel, but it still cost him his career.

In 2019 the Cauliflower Alley Club will honor “Dr. D” David Schultz with the Men’s Wrestling Award at their Reunion in Las Vegas. It’s an honor long overdue and much deserved, and it’s an honor that comes from his peers.

When I first started blogging, I saw a need for someone to give proper coverage to the independent wrestling promotions here in the Midwest. There were half a dozen promotions running just in the Louisville area at that time, and the number grows exponentially as you move out into Indiana, Kentucky, and Ohio. It was far too big a task for me to bite off at that time, and I would dare say it’s an even bigger challenge now.

Thankfully, Chad French was crazy enough to take it on himself. He began blogging about wrestling using the blog title, “Chad Is an Idiot,” and I’m sure he felt that way at times trying to get his arms around the Midwest wrestling scene. That said, Chad has proven he is no slouch when it comes to writing about and promoting independent wrestling. His blog is now called the Midwest Territory, and he’s doing a phenomenal job keeping readers informed as to what’s going on across Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, and even Illinois.

Midwest Territory is a must read blog for anyone who wants to get to know the promotions and the wrestlers in the current scene. Chad does feature stories on upcoming shows and regular interviews with the men and women who are ascending the independent ranks. Follow Midwest Territory on Twitter and Facebook, and you’ll get even more posts about upcoming shows in the region. Chad does his best to cover everyone from OVW in Louisville to Rockstar Pro in Dayton to Wrestling Theology Fellowship in Indianapolis and other names and places too numerous to mention. He’s got a great thing going, and he deserves all the credit and support in the world for what he brings to the business.

This is the book I’ve waited five years to write. It’s almost here, and will be available in early 2019.

The biography of Jim Mitchell is a game changer for the history of professional wrestling, especially for African Americans. It’s a story that has to be read to be believed!

Art work is by the incredibly talented Adrian Johnson, who heard me talking about Mitchell on Jim Cornette’s podcast and reached out to me. And yep, that’s Gorgeous George with his lavender trunks in the headlock.

Without a doubt, Wrestlemania is the biggest destination even for pro wrestling fans every year. Even if you’re not a WWE fan, there are so many promotions running shows, so many things to see, and so much to do (including Wrestle Fest), it’s a huge draw every year.

That said, there are a few other annual events that die hard fans should seriously consider attending in 2019 or beyond. These events are smaller but they provide a much better opportunity to interact with stars of the past and present.

First up is the annual Cauliflower Alley Club Reunion April 29 through May 1. Founded in 1965, the Cauliflower Alley Club holds an annual reunion to honor stars of the past and present and provide an opportunity for wrestlers and fans to gather and celebrate professional wrestling. The CAC Reunion takes place at the Gold Coast Casino in Las Vegas. Special rates are available to the event, and discounted tickets are available to CAC members. (Yes, fans can join too!) CAC does a lot of work helping older, ailing wrestlers, and it’s the one annual event where wrestlers are honored by their peers.

Second is the Hall of Fame Induction Weekend, held in Wichita Falls, Texas at the Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame. The class of 2019 has already been announced, and this coming spring they will honor Charlie Fox, Baron Michele Leone, Lord James Blears, Abdullah the Butcher, Ronnie Garvin, Owen Hart, Bob Roop, Gory Guerrero, Beverly “the Hammer” Shade, Ann Laverne, Johnny “Red Shoes” Duggan, Wally Karbo, and the Midnight Express. The PWHF hosts an entire weekend of festivities, and like the CAC Reunion, gives fans a better chance to interact with the wrestlers in attendance than other fan fests.

Finally, there is the Hall of Fame Induction Weekend at the George Tragos and Lou Thesz Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame at the Dan Gable Museum in Waterloo, Iowa. Just like the events above, fans and wrestlers mingle for three days in a much more intimate, personal setting than regular fan fests. The Dan Gable Museum us a treat for wrestling fans, well worth the visit, and you just can’t beat the access you get to the stars of the past. I attended this event myself in 2018 when Booker T, Owen Hart, and Dan Severn were honored, and I really enjoyed spending time hearing stories from folks like Bruce Hart, Rock Riddle, and Koji Miyamoto. I hope to go again in future years.

This is not a call to skip Wrestlemania weekend or even Wrestlecade in the fall. It’s a challenge to diehards to go beyond Wrestlemania, to celebrate the past, and to connect with your childhood heroes. Professional wrestling has a rich history that deserves to be preserved and celebrated, and I would love to see more fans do just that by supporting these organizations. Whether you prefer Vegas, Texas, or Iowa, make plans to attend one of these events in 2019 or 2020. It’s an experience you won’t soon forget.

For the one or two of you who have not seen it, here’s the video of the Iron Demon Shane Mercer lifting and using a set of metal bleachers at a match this past weekend.

Seeing this makes me question whether or not I should have picked on him as much as I did in Hy Zaya’s book, Good Night Ninja. You see, Hy loves to snap photos of guys sleeping in his car, and well, Shane rides with Hy and falls asleep in his car a lot. Given what Shane did in this video, it’s understandable the guy might need a little rest. It’s also questionable whether we should have included so many photos of him. I mean, if Shane can do this to a pair of bleachers, what could he do with a wrestling author?

Not many wrestling shows can deliver your money’s worth in one fight. Friday’s Pro Wrestling Freedom show, featuring their annual Primus tournament, will deliver your money’s worth and then some with the opening match.

The Carnies were one of the most violent, sadistic, and ruthless tag teams in America the last few years, going toe to toe with equally sinister duos like the Rejects and the Hooligans. Their recent implosion at PWF and their subsequent flame war on social media foreshadows an all-out war will happen when Nick Iggy and Kerry Awful meet in the opening match of the night, and the Primus tournament, Friday at the Jeffersonville Arena. Kerry Awful has declared that the circus is closed forever, but Nick Iggy insists that he IS the circus and that the sow will go on. The bad blood will no doubt spill out of the ring during Friday’s curtain jerker, and any fans who show up late will suffer the fate of being told, “You don’t know what you missed.”

Fans will also see a special feature match in which the Fear Family ( Derek Neal & Tyler Matrix) with Father Fear will take on Ryan Dookie & Effy.

Pro Wrestling Freedom Presents: Primus 2018 takes place Friday, Nov 30th 2018 at The Arena, 1416 Spring St in Jeffersonville, Indiana. Tickets are $20 and include a free poster and a meet and greet beginning at 7 PM. Kids 5 and under free. Doors open at 7 PM, and bell time is at 8 PM.

The Christmas shopping season is now here, and if you buy direct from Eat Sleep Wrestle, you can save on everything with free shipping in the US. Prices are good through the Christmas season, or until we sell out!

Don’t Call Me Fake signed by Dr. D – $25

Memoirs of a Mad Man signed by Pondo – $20

Bluegrass Brawlers – $10

Louisville’s Greatest Show – $10

Eat Sleep Wrestle – $10

Lord Carlton – $10

How to Become a Champion – $10

Good Night, Ninja – $10

Season’s Beatings – $10

Quantities are limited, and a few titles are close to being sold out.

Email johncosper@yahoo.com to order or to inquire abut international shipping costs. Payment is accepted by PayPal or by check or money order.

Girl Fight Wrestling has granted Eat Sleep Wrestle total access to the roster for its second midnight show, Midnight Girl Fight 2: Howdy, Pilgrim! Today is the thirteenth and final entry of this series, featuring Alice.

Randi West has faced some dangerous women in the years she’s been in the ring. Just the other night, she faced fellow Midnight Girl Fight competitor Amazing Maria in a deathmatch. But Wednesday evening, Randi will be wrestling against a student of hers who goes by the name… Alice.

That’s right, Alice.

Just… Alice.

Here’s the deal, wrestling fans. Alice is the one competitor who, no matter how many times I tried, would not grant me an interview. In fact I was urged by a few parties not to approach her, though no one would give me a good explanation why.

Randi West described Alice as a shy, quiet girl who “transforms” when the bell rings. She wouldn’t elaborate further, but something tells me Randi has a very compelling reason for facing her own student at Wednesday’s show.

What is it that transforms Alice in the ring? Did Randi accidentally unleash some cryptic danger when she brought the girl under her wing? Is Alice the Anakin to Randi’s Obi Wan?

Is it already too late for Randi to save her student?

Alice.

Sounds, terrifying, right?

People once said the same thing about the name Freddy. And Jason. And Michael. and Chucky.

Fans can see Alice, Randi, and ten other amazing women tear the house down at Midnight Girl Fight 2 on November 21 at the Arena in Jeffersonville, Indiana, 1416 Spring Street. Bell time is at 11:59 PM.

Girl Fight Wrestling has granted Eat Sleep Wrestle total access to the roster for its second midnight show, Midnight Girl Fight 2: Howdy, Pilgrim! Today is part twelve of this series, featuring Khloe.

To look at the tale of the tape, the no disqualification/ falls count anywhere match between Khloe and Piper Brooks at Midnight Girl Fight 2 looks like a mismatch. Piper Brooks is coming in with a significant advantage in height and muscle, but even she knows she has her work cut out for her in Kentucky’s own Khloe.

Khloe is no stranger to Girl Fight. She’s had many classic battles with some of the best women’s wrestlers in the country. It’s telling, though that when asked what her favorite match was, she picks the very dangerous and deadly Su Yung. “It was a dream come true,” says Khloe. You can almost see the sadistic glint in her eye when she says it.

Khloe is no stranger to the special stipulations on Wednesday night’s show either. “I have been in several no DQ/ falls count anywhere matches. More than Piper. This ain’t my first rodeo!” Khloe also got a warm up for the extra violent affair with her recent debut in front of the most hostile, violent fans in all of wrestling at Juggalo Championship Wrestling. How did she do? “I got over with the Juggalos very well. I think they liked that I was small but didn’t take any s–t!”

Khloe says she is “sleeping a lot” to prepare for battle with Piper, adding, “I got this!” when I asked of she was really ready. No doubt Khloe will come racing out of the curtains ready to give the fans a bang for their buck at the pre-Thanksgiving event.

“Women’s wrestling is hott!!!” she adds. “And it’s not your every day wrestling event!”

Fans can prepare to fight with their families over dinner by watching Khloe and Piper Brooks beat the crap out of one another at Midnight Girl Fight 2 on November 21 at the Arena in Jeffersonville, Indiana, 1416 Spring Street. Bell time is at 11:59 PM.